The company is still deciding whether or not it will need to restate previous accounts.

But Dell told the SEC last week that its audit committee is in the final stages of its investigation. The US Attorney General's office of Southern District of New York is also looking at Dell's accounts stretching back to 2002.

Dell is one of dozens of IT firms facing accounting investigations over allegations that they mis-dated earnings or backdated share options.

The company is laying off 10 per cent of staff in order to cut costs and is looking at changing strategies - it is considering moving away from its direct sales model to flog more boxes through resellers. ®